A guide to summer berries

Whether adorning a pavlova, layered inside a trifle or made into a gem-coloured jam, nothing says summer quite like berries. Discover the range of, and what to do with, one of the season's best bounties.

Mulberries

This purple-red fruit is available October-February but is hard to find in stores as the berries are very delicate and spoil a day or so after picking. They have a characteristic rich, winey flavour which makes them perfect for pies, cakes or eaten straight from the tree. Be careful of the juice though, as its wine-coloured stain is impossible to remove from clothing.

Blackberries

A member of the rose family, the richly-flavoured blackberry has thrived in Australia's climate and is now classified as a noxious weed. Available from early summer to mid-autumn, also look out for some of the popular blackberry hybrids – including loganberries, boysenberries and youngberries – and use them in place of blackberries in any recipe.

Blueberries

This North American native has a sweet, delicately flavoured fruit and is available from November-March. Excellent in baked treats, it stars in recipes for muffins, cakes and as an adornment to piles of fluffy pancakes.

Raspberries

Another member of the rose family, raspberries are both sweet and tart and make an ideal fruit for desserts, baked goods and as an accompaniment to game. They damage very easily and are best eaten the day they are picked, or as soon after as is possible. Raspberry crops come into bloom December-February.

Currants

Available as red, white or black, these small shiny berries have an intense, tart flavour that is ideal when cooked into jellies, jams or as an accompaniment to other berries. They have a short season, available mainly in December.

Strawberries

Highly perfumed and loved by all, strawberries are the most prized berry of the lot. This small plant is also a member of the rose family, and is available throughout the summer months. Some varieties are known for their durability rather than their flavour, so make sure that the fruit you buy is highly perfumed for a satisfying strawberry taste.

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